Read the Whole Story of the Bible in 2012

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Read the Whole Story of the Bible in 2012

‘Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path’ (Psalm 119:105)

What?

After the success of the Bible in a Year Challenge in 2010 we’re encouraging members of St. James to read the whole story of the Bible in 2012. This time round you can engage with the challenge on one of two levels (see below). This ‘big picture’ reading will complement the more in-depth study of John’s gospel we’ll be doing in our Sunday sermon series in the first term of 2012.

Why?

Reading God’s word regularly and prayerfully is a life transforming experience as God’s Spirit speaks to us through his written word. Setting out to read the whole story of the Bible has a number of benefits:

It helps establish a habit of daily Bible reading
It gives you a feel for the Bible’s overarching story
It is something we can do together as a community activity

How?

For 2012 we’re suggesting two options:

Read through the whole Bible using one of many available plans, or a special one year Bible. If you use an NIV Bible in One Year you’ll find a helpful daily commentary on Holy Trinity Brompton’s website: http://www.htb.org.uk/bible-in-one-yearPublished by Hodder & Stoughton in various editions, including Kindle e-book, and iBook available from iTunes(N.B. this follows a similar, but not identical, schedule to the One Year® Bible we used in 2010) Download the 2012 Bible in a Year reading plan
If reading the whole Bible in a year seems like too daunting a task, try Essential 100, which covers the whole of the Bible in 100 undated readings (50 from the Old Testament and 50 from the New Testament). There is a paperback guide that goes with E100, or pick up a free leaflet containing the reading scheme (both stocked at the Saint James Centre bookstall). More details at:http://www.e100challenge.org.uk/

Scripture Union also publish Big Bible Challenge, a child/family-friendly version of E100. Why not use that as a resource for reading the Bible together as a family?

A simple Bible study method

Whether you’re reading the Bible as an individual, as a couple, as a family, or as a small group, here’s a simple model for reading the Bible that uses the acronym SOAP:

S – Scripture. Read a passage from the Bible.

O – Observe the who?, what?, when?, where?, why? plus anything else that strikes you; maybe write down your observations in a notebook.

A – Apply. How does this apply to me? To the church? To our culture?

P – Pray – let the Bible passage guide you. Pray for yourself and for other people that come to mind.

Resources